Play curling game



- Aug. 18, 1959 P. w. HOWLETT 2,900,139

' PLAY CURLING GAME Filed Feb.. 24, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 1 PERCXhZ/V WLETT Aug. 18, 1959 P. w. HOWLETT 2,900,189

' PLAY CURLING GAME Filed Feb. 24, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent H PLAY CURLING GAME Percy W. Howlett, Quebec, Canada Application February 24, 1958, Serial No. 716,912 3 Claims. (Cl. 273-126) This invention relates to a curling game which simulates closely the regular game of curling as played on ice.

One of the main problems with miniature games which attempt to simulate an actual game or sport is that the conditions of play are not sufdciently close to the actual conditions to be realistic and to involve the same skills as in the actual game. The present invention aims to remove this objection in the case of a miniature .game of curling by providing playing facilities which closely re semble those of the actual game, even though the present game is played on a miniature scale.

Applicants development In accordance with the present invention, a curling game is provided which includes an elongated playing surface simulating the actual ice playing surface on which curling takes place. The playing surface includes the regular markings found on the ice surface in curling including circles or rings for scoring in the scoring area and the usual lines in the delivery area. As in curling, a miniature stone is slid from a delivery area to a scoring area. The playing surface intermediate delivery and scoring areas is provided with a symmetrical guiding area having a pair of gulleys extending longitudinally thereof and intervened by a ridge eXtending longitudinally of the playing surface and equally spaced from its sides. The playing surface slopes downwards and inwards from its sides and then upwards to the ridge-to form the gulleys. The gulleys first gradually increase in depth from adjacent to the delivery area towards the scoring area to a neutral zone and then gradually de crease in depth towards the scoring area. 'The stones are thus urged to curl towards the centre in the area near the side and away'from the centre in the region near the ridge, first more and more to' a transition-zone and then less and less as the scoring area is approached. The summit of the ridge may be substantially level over its entire length or preferably may rise slightly in the intermediate area, above the level of the delivery and scoring areas. r

The particular conformation of the playing surface causes a stone to actsimilarly to the way it actson the ice when curled inthe actual sport of curling;

Preferably, the playing surface terminates in an unbordered edge adjacent to which is attached a net adapted to receive stones leaving the end of the playing sur face. Preferably, border rails are provided at the edge of the playing surface to prevent the stones from leaving the playing surfrace. The actual board may be mounted on a suitable structure with folding legs or used on a table top.

r i Detailed description.

iZHavirig thus generally-described the invention it will now be disclosedin furthendetail by reference to the accompanyingldrawings in which: T

:Figure lis a perspective viewshowing a game board constructed in accordance with the invention mounted on a suitable supporting structure.

Figure 2 is a plan view of one of the miniature stones used in playing the game.

Figure 3 is a cross-section along the line 2-2 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a measuring device which can conveniently be used for measuring the position of the stones in the scoring area.

Figure 5 is a top plan view showing on a large scale the layout of the playing surface, and auxiliary areas, and also indicating the curling performance of stones projected in difierent directions.

Figure 6 is a vertical cross-section along the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a vertical cross-section along the line 77 I of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a vertical cross-section along the line 8-8 of Figure 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the preferred form of device illustrated is made up as follows: It includes a board A providing a playing surface P. The aboard A is mounted on removable legs B. This can include legs 15, cross bars 16 and connecting bars 17 to permit the supporting structure to be folded up for storage or carriage, or alternatively legs provided with threaded pins may be screwed into topped sockets in the board A. The nature of the supporting structure is not part of the invention and may be varied as desired.

The board A is bordered by a molding or edge 21 which protrudes upwards at the side of the board to prevent the stones from sliding off the playing surface P. As shown the edge 21 rises at the intermediate part of the board.

The board A is elongated and extends from a delivery area D from which miniature stones are curled through an intermediate or guiding area W to a scoring area S marked with scoring circles 41. In the delivery area at each side are bordered areas27 and 29 with holes for scoring pegs or alternatively sliding pins may be used. The scoring area S is adjoined by a net 31 into which stones may slide beyond the scoring area. Holders are provided to contain miniature brooms.

In accordance with the invention, the guiding area W has a surface of overall concave shape rising at the sides, particularly at the middle of the area so as to urge a stone curled from the area D in the longitudinal direction of the board towards the centre line of the board A. The middle of the board is provided in the intermediate or guiding area W with concavities 22, 24 as a result of the centre line wood strip 18 under the playing surface, verging into an intervening ridge K having its summit along the centre line of the playing surface.

The ridge K may be level from end to end but preferably rises slightly in the middle, for example, up to about one quarter of an inch above the level of the delivery and scoring areas. The net result of this construction produces a longitudinal tapered or gulley W on each side of centre starting at the foul line F and reaching the full depth in a transition zone at the middle of the playing surface, before the hog score line G. The gulleys W and the ridge K accomplishes the gradual curling of stones from each side towards the centre and from the centre towards each side (depending on the line of projection of the stone) which simulates the performance of stones in the ice game.

The dimensions of the playing surface are not restricted but it has been found that dimensions 8 feet long and 30 inches wide are practical, so a board of these dimensions is cited as an example. In each case, the double concave guiding area starts 20 inches from back gradually reaching maximum concave both sides of centre between 33 inches and 63 inches from back, then gradually reduces again to zero at inches from back, score. The scoring area including the circles, is flat.

The playing surface material is preferably a light weight glassy laminated paper-board 12, for example, that sold under the trademark Arborite and of an inch thick. The frame design may be a plywood base 14, /2 inch thick and covering the same horizontal area as the paperboard surface. A second plywood base 51 is applied on top of the main base, the full width to a length 20 inches from back. A third plywood base 53 of inch thickness is attached on top of the main base the full width to a length of 20 inches, from the back score line. A wood strip 18, /2 inch wide and A inch thick is attached down the centre line on top of the main base from the foul line to approximately the tee line. The shiny playing areas, back to foul line, and scoring areas, including the circles, are flat level surfaces. The outside edges of the playing surface are supported by edges 21 to provide the required concave surfaces.

Preferably, the playing surface is lightly waxed so that the amount of polishing can be arranged to provide a fast, medium or slow playing surface. The surface should be dusted off with a clean cloth before each game to avoid its becoming scratched.

The full width net receives stones sliding out of play beyond the back score line. Therefore, it is unnecessary to remove a stone that has crossed the hog score line and has not touched the side of the rink.

The scoring arrangement employs sliding pins positioned opposite numbers representing score and ends played by each side, red and blue.

The stones are made of hardwood or other suitable material weighted to approximately 3 ounces, including a body 26 and a handle 28. All stones must be practically the same weight. The circumference is preferably 6 inches and the diameter preferably 1% inches. The body 28 is provided with an annular sliding ring 30 restricted to a Width of about of an inch around the periphery, and substantially flat. This dimension holds for stones of approximately the weight and other characteristics defined and is relatively critical to obtain faithful reproduction of the performance of stones in the ice game. A full game uses 16 stones, 8 red and 8 blue.

It should be explained that the stones are not, insofar as the slidingsurface dimensions are concerned, of the same dimension as the fulsized stones used in the actual ice game. Only by experiment has the applicant found that the stones of the dimensions mentioned, the sliding surface 30 must be substantially flat and in the neighborhood of & inch in width. This dimension provides for proper sliding speed on a polished surface of the construction described in this application.

Preferably, both the diameter of the circles or rings and the diameter of the curling stones bears a direct rela tion in size to the ice game. In other Words, the relation between the space occupied by the stones in the rings or scoring area is the same in ratio as in the ice game.

In relation to the ice game, the diameter of the rings or circles, the circumference of the stones and the Width of the playing surface in the preferred embodiment illustrated are M; in size. Other ratios in relation to the ice game may be employed using the same standard design features. The scoring area circles may be painted in any suitable contrasting colors. In this case, red, white and blue are used.

A measuring device of the divider type is a design feature required to determine accurately which stone is closest to the centre of the rings when they appear to be equidistant. Miniature brooms are a desirable accessory of this game, so that a skip may direct his players to make the required shot.

Two cleaning spaces are provided for stones so that the shots will not be spoiled due to or abrasive particles. One area of plastic screen 52 is provided to remove dirt. A second area of cardboard 54 is to polish the running surface of the stones. Each stone to be played is first rubbed on these respective areas. A cloth may be used periodically to remove Wax or dirt from the polishing area.

The rules of play are exactly the same as in the ice game.

The game faithfully reproduces the ice game. It, therefore, provides good entertainment in applied strategy to outplay opponents and the judging of weight (speed) and direction requires considerable skill for each type of shot, i.e. draw, guard, take-out, wick, touch and lie, front ring, etc. This game teaches the fundamentals of the lee game.

The ridge K has been described as either being level or slightly raised about 12 of an inch at the centre line. The raised structure is greatly preferred since it provides a more natural and interesting curling of the stones from the centre line towards each side as they slide into the scoring area. Thus the advantage of the raised centre line in the intermediate area is to provide greater curling effect as compared to the level end-to-end centre line.

Certain of the terms used in the specification are peculiar to curling. The terms hog score and back score refer to lines within which stones are in play and outside of which they are removed from play. These lines are shown at Figures 1 and 5 of the drawings. In other words, the scoring area is between the line marked hog score adjacent to the delivery area, and the line marked back score adjacent to the scoring area. In curling, actual playing pieces or missiles made of stone are used, so the playing piece is called a stone whether actually made from the stone or not.

I claim:

1. A curling game comprising an elongated board having a smooth rigid uninterrupted playing surface over which a missile is slid from a horizontal delivery area to a horizontal scoring area with a neutral zone intervening the delivery and scoring areas, said playing surface in the neutral zone being provided with a continuous symmetrical guiding area having as integral parts thereof a pair of gulleys extending longitudinally thereof and intervened by a ridge extending longitudinally along the middle of the playing surface and equally spaced from the sides thereof, the surface of the board sloping smoothly downwards and inwards from its sides and then smoothly upwards to the ridge to form the gulleys, the gulleys first gradually increasing in depth from adjacent to the delivery area towards the scoring area to near the middle of the neutral zone then gradually decreasing in depth towards the scoring area thereby to urge the missile to curl towards the middle of the playing sur face in the area near the side and away from the middle in the region near the ridge first more and more to a transition zone and then less and less as the scoring area is approached.

2. A curling game, as defined in claim .1, in which the summit of the ridge is substantially level over its entire length.

3. A curling game, as defined in claim 1, in which the summit of the ridge rises in its intermediate area slightly above the level of the delivery and scoring areas.

References Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,476,369 Ross Dec. 4, 1923 1,906,025 Steenkiste Apr. 25, 1933 2,576,326 Wostrel Nov. 27, 1951 2,752,157 Towle June 26, 1956 2,791,429 Perec May 7, 1957 

